The National Industrial Court has criticised the suspended Clerk of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Barrister Olalekan Onafeko, for resorting to self-help, clarifying that it never ordered his reinstatement as reported by some media outlets.
A section of the media had claimed that the court directed Onafeko to resume office, a report that allegedly led to him forcefully taking over the office of the acting Clerk, Taiwo Ottun.
At the resumed hearing of the case, the court expressed its disapproval of how its earlier directive was misinterpreted. It emphasised that its order was for all parties to maintain peace and to refrain from any actions that could disrupt the stability of the state pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
Before adjourning the matter till March 18, 2025, for the hearing of all applications, the court voiced its surprise over the claimant’s misrepresentation of its directive.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. O.O. Oniyire, informed Justice M.N. Esowe that Onafeko had taken matters into his own hands by forcibly breaking into the office of the acting Clerk and taking over.
He further stated that Onafeko had issued press statements falsely claiming that the court had reinstated him. Additionally, he accused the claimant of using operatives of the Department of State Services and the police to harass and intimidate the acting Clerk.
The court had previously heard an ex-parte application from Onafeko on February 20, 2025, in which he sought an order restraining the defendants. However, due to the extensive nature of his requests, the court refrained from granting them at that stage.
It specifically ruled that “both parties shall maintain the peace and status quo ante bellum pending the hearing of the motion on notice.”
With the next hearing set for March 18, the court is expected to deliberate on all pending applications in the matter.